Wednesday, April 2, 2025
4/2/2025
Montana Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP). - Montana’s Department of Public Health and Human Services (MT DPHHS) Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) seeks to continue the work of improving the emergency preparedness and response capabilities of its four Health Care Coalitions (HCCs) and building a more resilient health care delivery system for all Montanans. Our focus will be on supporting health care entities to meet the needs of their communities in times of emergency; coordinating with state agencies, HCCs, and coalition members to ensure all people have equitable access to care; and enabling the health care delivery system to continue to provide care during a disaster or emergency, improve patient outcomes, and save lives. Over the past decade, Montana’s HPP has established a strong foundation for health care preparedness. We've developed four regional HCCs, each with its own Preparedness and Response Plan. Each HCC has conducted a hazard vulnerability assessment, developed surge capacity plans, including pediatric surge scenarios, and created annexes for specific threats like infectious diseases, burn, radiological, and chemical incidents. We've also made strides in volunteer management, supply chain integrity, and crisis standards of care planning. The next five years, we will set and act on multi-year priorities that will improve Montana’s health care delivery system readiness; enhance our HCCs; coordinate planning and response efforts among health care delivery system partners; and ensure a resilient health care workforce. We will accomplish our objectives through nine core functions: • Assessment and risk mitigation to anticipate challenges and support decision-making. • Information sharing for real-time situational awareness. • Specialty care planning and coordination, including engaging with Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers. • Response coordination and support among HCCs and partners. • Healthcare workforce support through resources, training, and exercises. • Resource management to mitigate shortfalls and sustain care. • Training, exercises, and evaluations to validate and improve readiness. • Continuity and recovery to improve processes and systems. • Organizational development to sustain and grow HCCs. We will collaborate with required partners like Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC), educational agencies, the State Unit on Aging, and community organizations representing those most impacted by disasters. Our approach is data-driven and adaptive, ensuring we address the evolving needs of our communities. By leveraging our long-standing partnerships and building new ones, we will create a resilient, equitable, and effective health care emergency response system for all Montanans.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).